Sprayer construction



Oct. 19, 1937. A. DE wEAL SRAYER CONSTRUCTION Fild May 11. 1933 .1mm www mwm Patented Oct. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ICE SPRAYER CONSTRUCTION Andre de Weal, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 11, 1933, Serial No. 670,433

17 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to a new and improved sprayerconstruction, and more particularly to a sprayer which is proof against leakage of the contents of the receptacle with which it may be associated.

The present improved sprayeris of a type adapted to be used in connection with receptacles such as bottles, cans or the like, for manual operation to spray or atomize the contents of the l receptacle. It is adapted for usev in connection with a wide range of materials, among which may be mentioned polishing fluids or the like, insecticides, paints and lacquers.

Liquids of the character described arein gen-4 eral quite volatile and it has heretofore been the usual practice to ship the liquids in closed containers with separate sprayers which might be inserted into the containers for use. Usual types of sprayers have pistons fitting loosely in covers for attaching to the receptacle so that there may be leakage between the cover and piston. Such devices also are liable to leakage through the sprayer itself if the latter is placed in the fluid container for shipment.

The use of a separate cap or closure and sprayer requires larger cartons and boxes for shipment and also adds to shipping costs. The older types of sprayers also cause losses of volatiles where the sprayer stands idle, as the sprayer is not ordinarily inserted and removed each time it is to be used. In addition, if the device is accidentally knocked over the leakage may damage o-r destroy material With which it may come in contact.

5 It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved device for spraying liquids. y

It is a further object to provide a sprayer having a leakproof connection to a receptacle.

o It is an additional object to provide asprayer in which internal sealing means serve to prevent leakage through the sprayer.

It is also an object to provide a sprayer in which the return spring acts to yieldingly seal the piston opening.

It is a further object to provide a sprayer construction having an internal valvepconstruction seated by the sprayer return spring. y l

It is an additional object to provide a sprayer cionstruction including means for locking the sprayer in closed position.

' It is also an object to provide a sprayer having a discharge valve closed throughout a limited vrange of movement, and having a valve member movable relative to its securing means.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

I have shown certain preferred embodiments of my invention in the accompanying drawing, in which- -5 Figure 1 is an elevation of a bottle provided with one form of my improved sprayer;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the construction of Figure 1, taken at right angles to Figure 1 and shown on an enlarged scale partly broken 10 away;

Figure 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1 but shown on the scale of Figure 2; v

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the valve and pump portions of a modified 15 form of construction;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation showingv the upper portion of the sprayer assembly with a modified form of holding means; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section showing a 20 modified nozzle construction.

Referring first to Figures l, 2 and 3, the bottle II is provided with a metallic closure member I2 which is screwed onto the threads I3 on the neck of the bottle. This cap or closure I2 contains 25 a sealing washer I4 and a guide member I5 held in place in a perforation formed in the center of the closure member. The washers I4 and I6 and the guide member I5 are held in place by the crimped end of the member I5 and its up- 30 set portion 48.

The lower end of the guide member I5 is flared, as shown at I1. The tubular piston member I8 extends through the opening in the closure member I2 and through the guide member I5. This 35 tubular piston has an outwardly turned discharge end I9 upon which is tted the discharge nozzle 20. The discharge nozzle has a sloping discharge face 2| which is conical in form and provided with a central discharge opening 22. 40 The conical form of this discharge face as shown has been found particularly eicient in giving a uniformly atomized or vaporized spray. The threaded member 23 is fitted into the nozzle 20, the spiral threads on the member 23 serving to 45 form spiral passages for the fluid. This also aids in properly breaking up the fluid before it is discharged as spray.

The intermediate portion of the tubular piston I8 carries the packing 24 which rests against the 5o collar 25 which is xedly secured to the tubular piston member I8. The lower end of the piston I8 has an integral enlarged portion 26 which is fitted into the upper end of a cylinder 21. 'I'he piston is provided adjacent the enlarged portion 55 with the valve seat 23. The upper end 23 of the cylinder 21 is turned in to prevent separation of the piston from the cylinder. The lower end of the cylinder 21 is crimped as shown at 30 to provide a plurality of passages for fluid. This lower end 30 rests against the bottom 3| of the bottle or other receptacle. The perforate member 32 is .tted in the bottom of the cylinder 21 and the ball valve 33 is adapted to close the opening in the member 32.

The cup-shaped member 34 constitutes a cage to hold the ball 33 adjacent the member 32. The member 34 is provided with perforations 3x5 to permit passage of the fluid. 'Ihe valve stem 35 extends through the central upper portion ofthe member 34 and is held in place by an enlarged lower end 49. This valve stem extends through the valve seat 28 in the piston and its upper end 31 is enlarged and has loosely iltted thereon a tubular valve member 33. The lower edges of this member 38 are crimped so as to prevent the member` from slipping olf the enlarged head 31 of the valve stem. The coil spring 33 has its lower end engaging the cage 34 and its upper end fitted into the enlarged portion 26 of the piston. Theoperating ring 40 extends above the bend in the piston I8 and thelower ends of the ring are clamped to the piston by means of they collar 4I.

In one form of construction the piston I8 is provided with indentations 42 on opposite sides thereof as shown in Figure 3. A split ilat spring clip 43, having a keyhole opening therein, is'

slipped upon the piston I3 as shown in Figures 1 and 3, this clip bearing against the outer face of the closure member I2 and serving to maintain the packing ring 24 against the ared portion I1 of the guide member l5. v'Ihls clip prevents depression of the piston against the spring V33 accidentally, such as might be the case if the container were shipped or stored upside down. Such depressionmight unseat the packing 24 and possibly also the valve, and permit leakage.

A modified form of construction for retaining the packing ring clamped between these two members is shown in Figure 5. In this case the modiiled form oi' operating ring 44 is hingedly supported at 45. In order to maintain the piston in its upper position and the packing ring properly clamped, the member 44 is swung down to the position indicated `in dotted linesat 43. It then engages the top of the closure member I2 and maintains the'parts in the desired position.

A modified form of valve construction is shown in Figure 4. Here the piston 53 has an enlarged end 5I fitted in the cylinder 52. The lower end of the cylinder is provided with the ball check valve 53. A valve seat 54 is formed in the lower end of the piston 50, this valve seat carrying a rubber or other suitable packing ring 55. A spider or cage 56 for holding the ball valve ,53 in place is i'ltted into thevcylinder, and hasr an outturned circular flange 51 which is held down by the coil spring 53, the opposite end of which engages the under side of the enlarged end 5I of the piston. The valve stem 53 is secured to the spider 56 and extends through the valve seat 54. The upper end of this valve stem carries the valve disc 60 which is brought against the washer 55 by the force of the spring 53.

In the modified form of nozzle construction shown in Figure 6, the tubular piston 33 is tted' with the nozzle cap 6I having the rounded outer face 32 with the spray opening 33 formed therein. 'I'he threaded member 64 is iltted in the nozzle cap 6I, this member being similar to the member 23 in Figure 2, and having the same function. The conical member 65 is tted in the outer por-` tion of the nozzle, this member 35 having an opening registering with the opening 33 in the nozzle. The valve disc $6 is loosely fitted between the member 34 and the end of the tubular In the operation or use of the form` of construction shown in Figures 1 to 3, it will be t... .erstood that the design is such that there will be no leakage in the ordinary use orlhandling. However, for shipping purposes it may be desirable to use the clip 43 to positively lock the parts in closed position. The length of the combined pistons and cylinder are normally so designed relative to size of the container in which they are to be used, that the lower end of the cylinder .rests on the bottom of the container and the collar 25 on the piston firmly forces the `packing ring 24 against the lower end I1 of the guide member I3. In this position the enlarged portion 23 of the piston does not engage the inturned upper end 23 of the -cylinder 21. but permits the piston to be urged resiliently by the forceof spring 33 to properly contactthe packing ring 24.

In the use of the sprayer the tubular piston vIii is depressed Aby forcing down the operating ring 40, this `being accomplished, in using containers of the size shown, by grasping the container inA the hand and inserting the forenger through tne ring 43. As the piston is forced down, liquid which was contained in the cylinder is trapped therein by the check valve 33 and is forced out past the valve 33 as the seat 23 moves away from the valve. 'I'he liquid is forced on through the atomizing nozzle 23 andemitted as a fine spray. As the piston is released, the spring. forces it upwardly until the packing 24 `again engages the portion I1 of the guide member. During this upward movement the suction in the cylindercauses fluid to flow past the check valve 33 and the cylinder is again iilied with fluid. As the parts reach their vupper position the tubular valve member 33 passes into the tubular opening in the valve seat 23. It will be apparent that this valve will eiectively clo the opening in the valve seat throughout' an appreciable range of movement between thecylinder and piston, since the valve and seat both extend along the line of relative movement. This construction makes it possible to have a tight seal at this upper valve even though the containers vary in size or the thicknesses of the bottoms oi the bottles vary.

'Ihe form of construction shown in Figure 4 is operated in the same manner. There is not, however, an eiIective closure in this form cf construction throughout as great av range of variation in position oi' the parts as there is in the form of construction shown inl Figure 2. 'Ihe effective closure is limited'ln Figure 4 by the compressibility of the washer II.

The fact that the valve member 33 is loosely tted on the valve stein 33has been found in practice to be important in imparting `il. smooth and even operation to the device. In a construction' with a xed valve and a tubular seat of the character shown, or a yielding seat, when the piston is depressed with the cylinder full of fluid, due to Ithe fact that the valve acts as a closure -upper portion of the cylinder.

8,096,827 lis a tendency at rst to compress the fluid, with a noticeable click or jerk as the valve nally clears the seat and the tluid ls released. It has been found that the valve 38 having play effectively prevents this occurrence and gives a smooth and emciently acting device.v 'I'his play may be at the connection of the valve to the stem or may be at the lower end of the valve stem, the enlarged head 49 on the lower end of the stem permitting a limited play at that point.

In both forms of upper valve construction, these upper valves form a water-tight and airtight seal Yat the lower portion of the pistonyor This seal prevents any leakage from the nozzle of uid in the piston above the valve, the uid being retained in the piston by the outside air pressure. The tubular form of valve shown in Figures l to 3 does not depend on spring pressure to hold it closed but makes a uid tight sliding t in its tubular seat.

A secondary purpose of the upper seal valve is to prevent fluid pressure which may develop4 in the bottle from being communicated to the fluid in the piston and to prevent such pressure from forcing any iiuid from the piston through the nozzle. Such fluid pressure might be created in the container when shipped in warm climates or placed in heated storage places. With the upper valve construction such expansion could, at most, force outsome small part of the fluid4 trapped at the portion of the piston above the valve dueto expansion of that fluid itself, but the expansion of the main body of fluid in the container would have no eiect.

This positive sealing of the ilui'd in the container is highly important as without such a seal there will be 'a very material leakage through the discharge orifice no matter how small that orice may be, as has been proven by repeated tests.

The fact that the packing 24 on the piston moves with the piston is important in affording a sprayer which will operate with moderate operating pressure and yet remain tight. 'Any fixed packing through which a. piston may move will cause undesirable friction losses of power if the packing is tight enough to be effective. Such a hard working piston is impractical in small, manually operated devices of the type shown, where it ls intended to operate the pump withone finger.

'I'he form of nozzle construction shown in Figure 6 may be manufactured more cheaply than the forms shown in Figure 2. 'I'he pointed discharge end of Figure 2 requires additional annealing and drawing operations not required with the form shown in Figure 6. may be made cheaply by a single operation and its slope is similar to that of the nozzle shown in Figure 2. It has been found to have a simi-` lar result in forming the ne spray desired. The valve member 66 serves to prevent liquid from being drawn down from the piston by closing oi the external air pressure and to insure the pump cylinder lling properly during the up stroke of the piston. 'I'he valve at this timev seats on the end of the member 68. During the spraying stroke the point 61 engages the member 64 and the valve tilts to provide additional passage for the fluid.'

While I have shown certain preferred embodiments of my invention, these are to be understood to be illustrative only, as it is capable of change and modication to meet varying requirements and conditions and I contemplate The member 65 such changes and variations as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: Y

1. In a sprayer construction, a xed closure assembly, a piston movable through the closure, packing around the piston on one side of the closure, a member carried by the piston for engaging said packing, and means bearing against the other face of the closure for locking the piston in fixed relation to the closure with the packing against the closure.

2. In a sprayer construction, a fixed closure assembly,`a piston movable through the closure, packing around the piston on one side of the closure, a member carried by thel piston for engaging said packing, l.- shoulder on the piston on the other side of the closure, and a member engaging the shoulder and the closure for locking the piston in xed relation to the closure with the packing against the closure.

3. In a sprayer construction, a xed closure assembly, a piston movable through the closure, packing around the piston on one side of the closure, a member carried by the piston for engaging said packing'.v indentations on opposite sides of the piston on the other side of the closure and a member having a keyhole slot therein fitted about the piston in vsaid indentations, said member engaging the closure for locking the piston in xed relation to the closure with th packing against the closure.

4. In a sprayer construction, a pump cylinder, an abutment adjacent the lower end of the cylinder, a piston fitted therein, a compression spring tted in the cylinder, bearing at its lower end upon the abutment and bearing at its upper end against the piston,l a valve stem having its lower end retained in the cylinder,`a port in said piston, a valve seat about said port, and a valve member carried by the valve stem and adjacent the valve seat, and adapted to engage the valve seat when the spring forces the piston to the upper portion of the cylinder.

5. In a sprayer construction, a pump cylinder, an abutment adjacent the lower end of the cylinder, a piston fitted therein, a compression spring tted in the cylinder, bearing at its lower end upon the abutment and bearing at its upper end against the piston, a valve stem having its lower end retained in the cylinder, a port in said piston, a valve seat about said port, and a valve member loosely carried by the valve stem and adjacent the valve seat, and adapted to engage the valve seat when the spring forces the .piston to the upper portion of the cylinder. y

6. In a sprayer construction, a pump cylinder, an abutment adjacentv thelower end of the vcylinder, a piston fitted therein, a compression spring tted in the cylinder, bearing at its lower end upon the abutment and bearing at its upper end against the piston, a valve stem having its lower end secured to the abutment in the cylinder, a port in said piston, a valve seat about said port, and a valve member carried by the valve stem and adapted to engage the valve seat, the spring serving to maintain the valve normally in engagement-with its seat.

7. In a sprayer construction, a pump cylinder, a tubular piston fitted therein, a port in said piston, a reduced portion in the piston about the port serving as a valve seat, a compression spring in the cylinder and engaging the piston, a valve stem having one end heldin place in the cylinder, the other end of the valve stem extending through the valve seat in the piston, and a valve member 4 en said tem adapted u com with the valve seat, the spring serving to maintain the valveV stem extending through the valve seat in the piston, and a valve lmember slidably carried on said stem and adapted to coact with the valve seat, the spring serving to maintain the valve normally in engagement withits seat. Y

9. In a sprayer construction.' a pump cylinder, a tubularpiston fitted therein. a reduced portion Y in the piston serving as a port and tubular valve seat, a compression spring in the cylinder and engaging the piston, a valve stem having one end held in place in the cylinder. the other end of the valve stem extending through the valve seat in the piston, and a tubular valve member on said stem adapted to nt within the tubular valve seat to coact with the valve seat lto retain the liquid in the pump cylinder during a range of relative movement between the valve and seat.

10. In a sprayer construction, a pump cylinder. a piston iitted therein. anport in the piston, a valve seat about saideport, the'opposite end of the cylinder having a reduced opening therein, a ball valve on said opening, a cage for retaining said bail valve in place, a spring engaging the cage and the lower end of the piston, and a valve associated with the valve seat in the piston.

1l.' In a sprayer construction, a pump cylinder, a piston ltted therein, a port in the piston, a valve seat about said port, the opposite end of Y the cylinder having a reduced opening therein,

a ball valve on said opening, a cage for-retaining said ball valve in piace, a sprlngengaging thecageandthelowerendolthe plston,avalve associated with the valve seat in the piston, and a valve stem connecting said valve and the'ball valve cage. Y

i2. Inga sprayer construction, a pump cylinder, a piston fitted therein, a port in the piston, a tubular valve seat about said port, the opposite end ofthe cylinder having a reduced opening therein. a bail valve on said opening. a cage for retaining said ball valve in place, a spring engaging the cage and the lower end of the piston.

ya tubular valve associated with' the valve seat in the piston. anda valve stem loosely connecting said valve and the ball valve cage.

a valve seat formed about the port. a member loosely tted in the lowerv portion of the cylinder, a valve stem secured'to the member and extending through the valve seat. a valve discl secured to the upper end o! the stem, and a spring having one end engaging the member in the cylinder and the other end engaging the piston to maintain the valve against the seat.

14. In a sprayer construction, a cylinder, a piston ntted in said cylinder, a port in the piston, a valve seat formed about the port, a ball `valve in the lower end ofthe cylinder. a cage loosely fitted over the .ball.valve, a valve stem secured tothe cage and extending vthrough the valve seat, a valve disc secured to ,thel upper end of the stem, and a spring having one end engaging the cage and the other end 8118881118 the piston to maintain the valve against the seat.

15. In a sprayer construction, a closure having an opening therein, a piston extendingthrough the opening. a packing secured to the pistonvand adapted to engage thelower side ci the closure, and a member pivotallyy secured `to thepiston above the closure and adapted to be swung to engage the upper side -oi' the closure to urg'e the packing against the lower side of the closure.

16. The combination with a container having `a closure cap, of a pump mounted in said container and having a cylinder engaging ywith the bottom of the container and a spring pressed tubular rod extending out through the cap o! the container, of means i'or fastening the rod in normally raised position, comprising a catch resting against the top of the container and engaging with grooves inthesides'oi' therodfvorholding therodin raised position. n

17. 'Ihe combination with a container yhaving a removable cap. of a tubular bearinghaving one end extending through a hole in the cap and ias'- tened to the cap, the lower end of the bearing being bell shaped, a pump having a cylinder resting on the bottom of the container, an inlet valve for said cylinder, a hollow pump rod coacting with the cylinder. a spring which holds the t rod in normally raised position. said rod extending outwardly throughthe bearing and having a restricted discharge opening, an abutment on the rod adjacent to the lower end of the bearing tion.

55 13. In a sprayer construction, a cylinder, a 'ANDRE nl WEAL.

piston tted in said cylinder, a port in the piston. 

